The Canadian Rockies by Rail

The trip

The Rocky Mountaineer's First Passage to the West route follows the historic railway from the Pacific into the Rockies, by daylight only, so you miss nothing. It runs from April to October with two classes; GoldLeaf, with its glass-domed upper deck and dining room, is worth the extra. Add a few days in the national parks and you have one of the world's great journeys.

The route

Start with three nights in Vancouver. Board the train for two days, with an overnight in Kamloops, to Lake Louise. After two nights there, drive the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, then return along it to Banff before flying home from Calgary. Twelve days is a comfortable length.

Day by day

Hotels and luggage on the train days are arranged by Rocky Mountaineer; your cases go straight to your next hotel.

1. Days 1-3

   Vancouver

   Stanley Park, Granville Island market, Gastown and a seaplane or ferry trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island.

   Stay Hotel in Vancouver

   Travel Airport transfer, about 30 minutes

2. Days 4-5

   Rocky Mountaineer

   Through the Fraser Canyon to Kamloops, then over the Rogers Pass and through the Spiral Tunnels into the Rockies.

   Stay Hotel in Kamloops (night 4)

   Travel Two days by train in daylight

3. Days 5-6

   Lake Louise

   Lake Louise at dawn, the tea house walk, Moraine Lake and Yoho's Emerald Lake.

   Stay Hotel at Lake Louise

   Travel Arrive by train

4. Days 7-9

   Icefields Parkway and Jasper

   Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls on the way north. Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island and dark-sky stargazing.

   Stay Lodge in Jasper

   Travel Drive, about 4 hours with stops

5. Days 10-11

   Banff

   Back down the Parkway to Banff: the gondola, hot springs, Lake Minnewanka and the town's restaurants.

   Stay Hotel in Banff

   Travel Drive, about 4 hours with stops

6. Day 12

   Calgary and home

   Drive or transfer to Calgary for the flight home.

   Stay Overnight flight

   Travel Drive, about 1 hour 30 minutes

When to go

The train runs from mid-April to mid-October. June to mid-September is warm with all roads and trails open; July and August are busiest. Late September is beautiful, with golden larches and fewer people. Moraine Lake road usually opens in June.

Where to stay

The grand railway hotels built by the Canadian Pacific are an experience in themselves; book them early for summer. Price bands are a typical night for two sharing; expect more at peak dates.

Featured stay

Moraine Lake Lodge

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

££££

Walkers and photographers who want Moraine Lake at dawn and dusk without the crowds, ideally in September.

By day, Moraine Lake is one of the busiest beauty spots in North America. But once the last shuttle leaves, its electric-blue water and the wall of the Valley of the Ten Peaks belong to a few dozen lodge guests.

Read our full review →

What it costs

Allow from about £6,500 per person for 12 days with SilverLeaf on the train, good hotels and car hire, excluding international flights. In GoldLeaf with the Fairmont hotels, expect £10,000 or more. Summer is the most expensive time.

Pace and fitness

The train is very easy: hosts serve meals at your seat or in the dining car, and luggage is handled for you. GoldLeaf has a lift to the upper deck. In the parks, viewpoints are a short walk from the car, and longer walks are optional.

How to book

Our advisors plan this trip end to end: flights, hotels, guides and the small details that make the days easy. Tell us your dates and the style of stay you like, and we will build it around you. Speak to an advisor.